Safety device



Patented July 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,720,694 PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY SCI-ILESINGEB, 0F DES MOINES, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO SCHLESCO-SHURE MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

SAFETY DEVICE.

Application filed April 26,

The object of my invention is to provide a safety device for dry cleaning plants or other places where tanks are provided that are subject to explosion and fire.

More particularly my invention relates to a device wherein in case of an explosion a valve is opened for permitting steam to pass into the tank into which the explosion occurs and prevents damage by fire and to permit the valve to be operated in case of a fire without an explosion.

It may be here mentioned that in gasoline supply tanks or dry cleaning plants where gasoline is used in washing machines, that when an explosion takes place an explosion door ordinarily mounted upon the tank is thrown open and it is my object to operate my safety device upon the opening of the explosion door for opening the valve and permitting my device to function.

lVith these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my invention, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1, is a top plan view of a tank or the like with my improved device installed thereon adjacent to the explosion door.

Figure 2, is a sectional view taken on line 2,2 of Figure 1, parts being shown in dotted position when the device is opened.

Figure 3, is a detail sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2 and Figure 4, is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

In the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally a tank of any suitable kind which may be a gasoline supply tank such as is used for oil storage purposes or a washing machine of the type used in dry cleaning plants.

The tank 10 is usually provided with an explosion door 11 which is thrown open when an explosion occurs within the tank.

My device is mounted adjacent to the explosion door and is secured to the tank in the manner I will now describe.

The tank 10 is provided with the opening 12 which is slightly less in size than the cover 13 upon which is mounted the mech anism of my safety device.

1926. Serial No. 104,683.

The covering 13 is secured in means of bolts or the like 14.

Mounted within the covering 13 is a bell shaped member 15 opening into the tank 10. The outside of the bell shaped member 15 1s screw threaded as at 16 and receives a nut or the like 17 with the covering 13 arranged therebetween as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

The bell shaped member 15 is formed with a valve seat 18 having a valve member 19 mounted therein and resting upon an adjustable member or bolt 20. v

A lever 21 is mounted within the tank and pivotally connected to a pair of spaced lugs or ears formed upon the member 15.

The covering 13 includes a cap or the like 22 which has an opening 23 therein through which an adjustable hook arm 24 is extended.

The end of the lever 21 is formed with a notch 25 which receives one end of a fusible link 26. The free end of the fusible link 26 is connected to the hook arm 24.

WVhen the adjustable bolt 20 is mounted upon the lever 21 and retains the valve 19 in closed position, the parts are in the position shown in solid lines in Figure 2 of the drawings.

The nut member 17 is formed with a number of openings 27 wherein a tool may be inserted for rotatingthe nut and one of these openings is screw threaded.

Mounted within the screw threaded opening is a stud 28 having an arm 29 formed thereon.

The arm 29 is bifurcated as at 30. Pivotally mounted between the bifurcated portions 30 of the arm 29 is a pivoted arm 31.

The pivoted arm 31 is forked at its outer end as at 32 and the hook arm 24 extends through the fork portion 32 as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings.

The hook arm 24 is formed with a screw threaded portion upon which is mounted a pair of nuts 33 wherein the hook arm 24 may be locked or adjusted relative to the pivoted arm 31.

position by The pivoted arm 31 is formed with a pori of the drawings, will prevent the pivoted arm 31 from pivotal movement.

The cam 36 is formed with an opening in which is mounted a rod or bar 37 and held in position by a screw 38. positioned so that it extends above the explosion door 11 and in case of an explosion and the door is raised or thrown open, then the bar or rod 37 is moved or swung to-the position shown in dotted linesin Figure 1 0f the drawings, causing the cam member 36 to swing clear of the portion 34 and permit ting the pivoted arm 31 to move to the position shown-in dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings.

The bar or red 37 may be inserted either on the righthand side or left hand side of the cam 36 and thus my device may be mounted upon either side of the explnsion door 11.

lVhen the explosion door 11 is thrown open by the force of the eftilosion, it autonmtical- 1y causes the cam36 to disengage the portion 3 1, permitting the arm 31 to drop as well the lever 21, opening thereby the valve 19.

The bell shaped member 15 is in communication with a pipe 39 through which steam may be admitted into-the tank 10 when the valve 19 is movedt-o open position.

It may be here mentioned-th at in case of a the the fusible link 26 will melt an d this will permitthelever 21 to move,.unseating the valve 19 from the scat18; I

My device will operate either when an explosion takes place instantly or in case of a It may be here mentioned that theoperation of my device by cause of an explosion is quicker than by fire.

In case of a fire or an explosion, live steam is permitted to pass into the tank through the pipe 39 and bell shaped member 15.

It will be noted that the valve 19 is adjustably mounted. and that the hook arm 2% is also adjustably mounted, thus giving me a device that can be easily installed and properly ad justed to function under predetermined conditions.

It will be further noted that the entire device is mountedas a unit upon the tank 10.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangementof the various parts of my invention. without departing from the real spirit and purpose ofmy invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, modilicd forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I I claim as my invention:

1. A safety device for tanks or the like having an explosion door comprising a valve seat and a movable valve member for controlling the injection of a tire extinguishing element into said tank, means for retaining the valve member in closed position, saidmeans The bar 37 iscomprising a pivoted lever having a portion to engage the movable valve member, a second pivoted lever connected to the first lever by a fusible link, located within said tank, a swinging cam adapted when in normal position to engage said second lever for maintain ingit in position to prevent movement of the movable valve member, said cam having an arm adapted tobe struck by the explosion door for moving the cam from such normal position for rendering said first means inoperative.

2. In a device of the class described adapted to be operated by an explosion door of a tank, a valve normally closed and adapted when open to admit a tire extinguishing element to said tank, means for holding the valve closed including a lever, a pivoted arm, a fusible link positioned within said tank and connecting the free ends of the lever and the arm and an adjustable screw on the lever adapted to hold the valve in closedposition, cam means engaging the pivoted arm for preventing movement thereof and means in connection with said cam means and operable by the explosion door when thrown open for causing the cam to disengage the pivoted arm to move for opening the valve.

3. In a device of the class described adapted to tank, a valve normally closed and adapted when open to admit a fire extinguishing ele ment to said tank, means for holding the valve closed including a lever, a pivoted arm, a fusible link located within said tank and connecting the free ends of the lever and the arm, cam means engaging the pivoted arm for preventing its n'iovement and means in connection withsaid camlmeans and operable by the explosion door for causing the cam to disengage the pivoted arm for opening the valve.

4. A safety device for tanks or the like hav ing an explosion door comprising a valve member, means for retaining the valve member in closed position and means operable by the explosion doorfor rendering said first means inoperative, said first means including a fusible link member located within said tank, said last'n'leans including a cam member adapted to extend over a portion of the means for retainingthe valve closed,a rod mounted in the cam member and extending away there from and over the explosion door so that movement of the door willstrike against the rod and throw the cam member free of said portion and permit the valve to open for admitting a fire'extinguishing element to the interior of said tank. 7

5. In combination with a container having an openable explosion door thereon, a safety device of the character described comprising a valve mounted adjacent said explosion door, means of connecting a source of fire extinguishing substance to said. valve whereby be operated by an explosion door of a opening of the valve will admit said substance to the interior of said container and means overhanging said door and adapted to be struck by said door when thrown open for opening said valve, said means comprising mechanism for holding the valve shut and a lock for said mechanism, said mechanism in cluding a fusible link located within said container, said lock being actuated by the means overhangingthe explosion door for rendering the lock inoperative when said last means is struck.

6. In combination with a container having an explosion door thereon, a safety device comprising a valve body, a seat therein, a valve member normally engaging said seat, a lever for engaging said valve member, an arm pivoted on said body member, cam means engaging said arm to normally maintain said arm in a predetermined position, a fusible link located within said container and connecting said lever for said arm together and serving in conjunction with said link to maintain said valve member against said seat, and means extending from said cam and adapted to be struck by said explosion door when thrown open by an explosion for moving said cam to disengage said arm whereby said valve will be opened.

7. In combination with a container having an explosion door thereon, a safety device comprising a valve body, a seat therein, a valve member normally engaging said seat, for preventing a fire extinguishing element from discharging through said valve, a lever for engaging said valve member, a holding arm pivoted on said body member, cam means engaging said arm to normally maintain said holding arm in a predetermined position, a fusible link located within said container and connecting said lever and said holding arm together for serving in conjunction with said link to maintain said valve member against said seat and an actuating arm extending from said cam and adapted to be struck by said explosion door when thrown open by an explosion for moving said cam to disengage said holding arm whereby said valve willbe opened.

HARRY SCHLESINGER. 

